Ball rotation when using side spin

gmcgrath

Registered
Is it correct to assume that when one hits a cue ball with side spin that it actually slides on its forward motion and does not "roll" forward. I would assume that the side spin acts like a gyroscope and prevents forward roll. If the ball does eventually roll forward as opposed to slide then the side spin must be off the ball.

Is this a correct assumption?

Just trying to understand cue ball dynamics.

Thanks
 
I believe you are correct to a point. But as a ball slides across the table, gravity and friction are eventually going to change the dynamics of the cue ball rotation. The ratio between directional speed and rotational speed would be another factor in how long it takes for that change to take place.

Play with it yourself. Take a striped ball and place it with the stripe parallel to the table and hit it with side spin. Change your speed and see what effect it has. You will be able to see if the ball is spinning or rolling, or both.

Steve
 
Follow Ratta's link and check out the video NV A.17
The video is designed to explain squirt, but on the soft shots, it's fairly easy to see how the ball starts down the table rotating on it's axis, but as it moves down the table, it picks up natural roll.

Steve
 
Is it correct to assume that when one hits a cue ball with side spin that it actually slides on its forward motion and does not "roll" forward. I would assume that the side spin acts like a gyroscope and prevents forward roll. If the ball does eventually roll forward as opposed to slide then the side spin must be off the ball.

Is this a correct assumption?

Just trying to understand cue ball dynamics.

Thanks
The site has some good explanations and videos.

It is important to understand that the cue ball rotation is entirely unlike a gyroscope. There is no fixed axis. Follow and draw are completely separate from side spin, except that the tip (and miscuing) limits you to a maximum total of spin. You can invest that in side or draw/follow or a combination.
 
Pure sidespin, without any topspin or draw, will stay on the CB MUCH longer than follow, draw, or any combination of top/bottom and sidespin. In order to shoot a shot with sidespin, where the sidespin is not affected by draw or natural roll, you have to stun the CB to it's contact point with the OB. Otherwise, in most cases, the CB goes to natural roll very quickly after contact.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
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